One of the most vital components of a Landscape Designers risk management strategy is Professional Indemnity insurance, as it provides financial protection and peace of mind in the face of potential claims.

This type of insurance protects you against claims made by clients for losses incurred due to actual or alleged acts of negligence, errors or omissions in the provision of professional services.

To put it simply, it provides financial protection should you make a mistake.

Intention of Cover for Landscape Designers

For Landscape Designers, Professional Indemnity insurance acts as a safety net and intended to protect your business from common mistakes, such as:

• Error in advice and/or documentation, including error in design work
• Oversight in environmental regulations
• Failure to provide professional services set out in a contract
• Loss of client documentation
• Failure to act in accordance with your client’s instructions, or at all
• Failure to advise client adequately

To ensure adequate cover is provided for services performed under your business, please ensure you speak with a member of our team.

Most Professional Indemnity policies contain standard exclusions for claims in relation to construction, installation or fabrication of goods or products – which is where a Design and Construct Professional Indemnity policy comes in.

This type of policy is designed exclusively for professionals in the building industry that:

• Perform physical construction or manufacture of products, goods, structures or buildings; and/or
• Have responsibility for the provision of any design, advice or any other professional services relating to those works.

Coverage Examples

Examples of cover under a Design and Construct policy may include:

• Civil liability for the provision of your professional services
• Claims as a result of faulty designs or inaccurate advice
• Breach of duty (including acts, errors, omissions, misleading statements)
• Mitigation costs
• Defence costs

More information about Design and Construct insurance can be found here – or get in touch with our team to learn more about how this should form part of your risk management profile.

Professional Indemnity insurance policies are offered on a ‘Claims Made’ basis. That means, they cover claims that arise from incidents that occur and are reported during a policy period only.

Coverage is triggered when the claim is made and reported to the insurance company. So to put it simply – subject to the retroactive date, the insurer who is providing cover at the time the claim is made will respond to the loss.

As a Landscape Designer, there are inherent risks in running your business. That’s why, in addition to Professional Indemnity and Design and Construct insurance, we recommend you consider your requirements for the following insurance products:

• Public Liability Insurance
• Cyber Liability Insurance
• Management Liability Insurance
• Tools and Equipment Insurance
• Office Insurance
• Workers Compensation Insurance
• Motor Vehicle Insurance

If you undertake physical construction or work, you may also need a Contract Works or separate Public Liability policy in place.